nourishment.

I signed up for an e-course yesterday on consuming nourishing foods, frugally.

Here it is:  The Peasant's Feast:  Nourishing Food on a Budget

Yeah, it cost me moolah, but I'm excited.  Most people don't know that for years I've been reading up on nutrition, foods, vitamins, minerals, raw foods, etc...  It's a bit of a secret hobby of mine.  I even considered getting a degree in nutrition.  You wouldn't probably know it by looking at me, honestly.  I'm not in the best shape (just round).  But I never really devoted the time to change anything in my routine for the better.  I'm going to try and change that this summer.  I have the time!  I also ordered a few new books, and I'm looking into the possibility of ordering some grass-fed, pastured meat and free-range eggs from a local Missouri farm in the future.

Does anyone already do this stuff?  Tips, ideas, thoughts, recipes?  I'd love to hear.

food preservation.

This summer, I'm teaching myself to can. 

No, not dancing the can-can, but learning to create my own canned goods in jars.  I've been looking, for a while, ways to preserve and store my own food - meaning, knowing every last ingredient in things (and ingredients that I can pronounce!). 

My first project wasn't canning at all, however.  My friend and work colleague owns a farm and brought me 10 huge heads of broccoli this week.  I wanted to freeze it all in small servings to use throughout the year.  I learned how to blanch, and I really enjoyed it!  Usually, cooking is such a difficult task for me because of my time restraints due to my schedule.  But when I have the time, I'm learning I love the processes of cooking.  It was actually kind of fun. :)

I bought two books on canning as well:

I've already read then and tagged recipes I want to try...including watermelon rind pickles.  Just sounds interesting!  I borrowed my Mom's boiling water bath canner that has been collecting dust since about 1975, and I ordered a new tools set that should be arriving via Amazon.com tomorrow.  My Mom has jars that I can use that have also just been collecting dust since who knows when - probably since before I was born!  So, I'm about good to go! 

Along with the preserving and such, I've ordered a small deep freezer that will be delivered in Tuesday.  This is a purchase that I've been wanting for a long time. 

My small little freezer on my apartment sized fridge just doesn't cut it.  With my busy schedule, I like to cook big batches of things when I have time, then freeze in serving size containers for quick, homemade deliciousness on busy weeknights (or basically every night).  I just hope it fits in the space I have for it the way I want it to...I guess I'll find out on Tuesday!

pumpkinhead.

The new soap arrived on Thursday afternoon.  I was motivated to take a shower immediately, to try out a few of the new soaps.  I say a "few" because I used the shampoo bar, the complexion bar, and a regular body soap bar.  And I have to say...

I'm in serious like with this soap!

I never thought I would say such a thing!  For years and years I would take showers and baths and when I got out my skin was raw, blotchy, red, dry, and felt fragile.  In fact, I can't remember a time my skin didn't feel like that...until yesterday!

Maybe my skin was all raw and hurting because of chemicals in the soaps I was using.  I can't imagine it being anything else because there has been such a dramatic change.  But the most dramatic has been my face.  Usually, when I get out of the shower after washing my face, it looks like I have rosacea or something.  The skin is dry and flaking, red and blotchy.  Rough, in fact.  Even if I would moisturize immediately, it wasn't smooth.  Well, I am happy to report that the Pumpkin Complexion Bar is *amazing!*  I honestly was not expecting these results.  But when I get out of the shower, my skin is calm, smooth, clean, supple, and NOT in need of a moisturizer!  I can't stop touching my skin.  I was even excited to get home from work today so I could take a shower with my new soap.  It's that awesome!  I also used the triple butter soap for my body, and the babassu and coconut milk shampoo bar.  Now, I think I mentioned before that I was a bit apprehensive about the shampoo "bar," but I have to say so far, so good!  The lather is unbelievable!  Very little product and a huge amount of lather.  My hair seems to have more volume (I have very thin, baby fine hair) than using store bought volumnizing shampoo/conditioner.  I'm very pleased!

Even after 2 days, ALL of my skin seems calmer, moisturized, clean, and healthier.  I am so surprised and so happy!  I will keep you updated, but all in all, I am already hooked on my pumpkin face!